Airport_Business_November_2020 - 22

UNDER

Kawai Lopez
Kawai Lopez wanted to be an educator or work in the event
industry when she was planning her career. However, 14 years
ago, she got a job at the Monterey Jet Center and caught that
notorious " aviation bug " that she swore she was never going
to get - let alone understand.
" Once I was promoted to CSR manager, I was able to really
apply all of my passion for teaching and event planning
into my new role, so it was the perfect combination of
everything I wanted in a career, " she said. " I am very hands
on with customer service training, so all of the new hire
training, recurrent training, and even the customer service for
line service training that I do really allows me to put on my
'teaching hat' and fulfill that passion. "
Lopez is still with Monterey Jet Center as the
Hometown: Monterey, CA
creative director behind all its customer service,
Fun fact about yourself: I love finding
business development and marketing efforts.
food trucks! I would love to own and
She photographs and posts all of the company
operate one!
Instagram messages highlighting not only the
Someone I look up to in the
Monterey Jet Center but all of the Monterey
industry: Jodie Brown (of Summit
Peninsula as a world class destination.
Solutions) and Michael Heilpern from the
Lopez understands what the challenges are for the
Monterey Jet Center.
private pilots that come and go at the Monterey Jet
My favorite thing about aviation
Center. She is always looking for ways to make their
is: That no two days are ever the same,
stay more comfortable and more like home. On
which allows me the opportunity to truly
holidays like Valentine's Day, she will have greeting
personalize every experience. Hearing on
cards ready for pilots to connect with loved ones
the scanner " Taxi Alpha to Echo to the
back home.
Monterey Jet Center " is always a great

" I like being in the aviation industry because of the high
energy and camaraderie, " she said. " There is just something
about that unspoken bond that we all share with each other
that really exemplifies the spirit of aviation. It doesn't matter
what role we play in the aviation world - and even if we have
nothing else in common - we are all connected by some
airplane, somewhere. "
In 2019, Lopez redesigned the company website to give
MJC the kind of online presence the FBO needed. She
conceptualizes and designs all of the MJC print and digital
advertising and often is also the photographer.
If you have visited the MJC booth at the NBAA convention you
may have received one of the baby onesies Lopez designed
with slogans like " Lav Service Required " or one of her tote bags
with the " I love the smell of jet fuel in the morning " slogan.

thing too!

www.AviationPros.com/21149634

Andrew J Wolanik, A.C.E.

Hometown: Crystal
Lake,CAIL
San Diego,
Alma Mater: Embry-Riddle
Lewis University
Aeronautical University
Fun fact about yourself:
My
I just recently
justI
Funwife
factand
about
yourself:
welcomed
am a triplettwin boys (Mitch and
Jack) into this world and are
Someone I look up to in
loving it.
the industry: Joe Lopano,
Someone
I look
up to
in
Sean Donohue
and Kim
Day.
the industry: My boss and
My favorite thing about
mentor, Jamie Abbott.
aviation is: Our ability to
My
thing
about
adaptfavorite
to constant
changes,
aviation
challenges is:
andI absolutely
opportunities.
love flying and attending EAA
My dream aviation job: I'd
AirVenture yearly with friends
love to run an airport one day.
and family

Andrew J Wolanik began his career at Chicago Executive
Airport as a summer intern, then spent five years as a charter
dispatcher at the airport. Now, he serves as the airport
operations and maintenance supervisor.
A career in aviation was in some ways a given, for as Wolanik
described, flight is practically a part of his DNA.
" I would be lying to you if I didn't say flying is my passion. I like
to say that I began flying in the womb. My dad's first official
passenger when he became a pilot was my mom when she
was pregnant, so I think that qualifies, " said Wolanik.
As the operations and maintenance supervisor, Wolanik
has ensured proactive measures such as field inspections,
NOTAMs and airport updates.
" I love that everything that we do on in and around the airfield
produces a physical result that helps improvement safety
and/or infrastructure of the airport. I feel that every physical
change whether it be some simple as replacing a faded sign
to having a taxiway constructed provides gratification like
completing a DIY project for your home, " Wolanik said.
Specifically, Wolanik has been instrumental in the
development of the airport's aircraft rescue and fire fighting
(ARFF) operations. He has assisted the local municipal fire
departments responsible for servicing Chicago Executive
with airfield driver training and ATCT coordination, as well
as development and improvement of emergency operations
plans. Wolanik has also promoted fire-rescue and FBO
collaboration to further develop and promote preparation for
emergency operations.

Wolanik also worked to create living training guidelines
and procedures to help the airport respond to a variety of
situations, and the airport won the Balchen Post Award in
2018-2019 for General Aviation Airports - representing the
trust that the airport has earned from its users and tenants.

" Flying is in my blood and I do not
know how I would live without it. "
Something Wolanik enjoys most about working in aviation is
the passion that those who dedicate their careers to it share.
" The people that are so passionate about what they do is what
makes this industry. I don't think a lot of people who dedicate
their education and themselves to a 24/7 industry are doing
it just to make a living. I absolutely love working with people
that enjoy what they do, " he said.
And Wolanik shares that passion with the airport employees
of the future by being a mentor to interns and working with
local high school and university aviation programs to bring
their students into the airport.

www.AviationPros.com/21149643

22 \ AIRPORTBUSINESS / NOVEMBER 2020
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