Jetrader - Spring 2016 - 39

In the two years since she took over the
company, Keri has assembled a mighty team of
industry experts, managed the company through
a growth trajectory and focused on making
UAM an industry pacesetter.
A Quick Ascent

Cultivate the Spark

Keri graduated from Purdue University
Flight Program and flew corporate aircraft
for a few years. She loved it but found herself
looking for something more than the excitement of takeoff and landing. So she headed
back to Purdue University and completed a
master's degree in international aviation
operations. UAM recruited her out of Purdue,
and she began managing projects, performing technical inspections and moving planes
around the world. For Keri, UAM has been her
dream job since she walked in the door in
2005. "I am able to deal with airplanes, do
business with people around the world, but
I still fly - usually to my own meetings. I
never lost my wings," she said. She currently
holds a Commercial Pilot Certificate and is a
Certified Flight and Instrument Instructor.
At age 23, she hit another milestone when
she completed her first aircraft deal - a
VIP 777 to the president of Gabon, Africa.
After two years at UAM, Keri advanced
to the role of chief operating officer where
she implemented technology, empowered employees and applied Kaizen Lean
Manufacturing processes. The result? The
company's revenue and gross profit more
than doubled in only five years.
"Keri is probably one of the youngest
veterans in this industry," said Shawn Kling,
UAM president.
And although she isn't one to back down
from a challenge, it took more than one
conversation to spur her to accept the
next unforeseen fork in the road. When
the former UAM owner asked her to buy the
company, she at first declined. But as she
tossed the idea around in her head, what
kept coming back to her was the heart she
has for her people.
"I really believed in what we could be
and what we could do," she said. "If I didn't
buy it, I feared the potential would be
lost." Keri acquired the company in 2013
and hasn't looked back since.

In the two years since she took over the
company, Keri has assembled a mighty team
of industry experts, managed the company through a strong growth trajectory
and focused on making UAM an industry
pacesetter.
Michael Kenney, senior vice president of
sales and business development at UAM,
has known Keri since they studied together
at Purdue and Keri was his flight instructor. After graduation, he embarked upon
a career as an airline pilot, but Keri knew
she wanted him on her team.
"I always saw that spark in him," Keri
said. "I always told him he was meant to
be in business. You see that spark, and you
cultivate it."
Her team couldn't have more confidence
in their leader. "The best CEOs are [people]
who can immediately look at an aerial view
and understand how to get from A to Z,"
Kling said. She has the "maze bright" skills
to effortlessly understand the intricate
business puzzle of revenues, expenses and
operational requirements, he said.
Kenney said what amazes him about
Keri's success is the way she refused to be
intimidated when entering a male-dominated field. "She had the ability to get
past that," he said.
"She just charges right through and
doesn't think twice," Kling said.

The ISTAT Perspective
Keri, an ISTAT member since the age
of 22, is an unabashed supported of the
organization and its role in the aviation
industry.
"I was one of those students who loved
to fly airplanes, but I just didn't know
where I belonged in this industry," she
said. "It wasn't until ISTAT came along and
gave me a perspective."
At her first ISTAT event 12 years ago, she
was one of maybe 10 women in attendance.

"There were always supporters like Roland
Moore and the ISTAT board who were very
focused on not only the promotion of women,
but young people and education," she said.
She's watched ISTAT grow and diversify
and promote education support within
the aviation industry. And she's proud to
be a part of what ISTAT is doing to make
more of an impact, specifically with the
ISTAT scholarship program. It's always been
important to her to spend time with the
students. "I could relate, and they could
relate to me," she said.

Industry Evolution
Keri calls the aviation industry a constantly moving factory. To watch it, manage
it and grow it, you have to pivot and shift
every day, a lesson she took from Warren
Buffet.
Keri hints that there are big things to
come for UAM. "The aviation industry is
changing faster than it ever has," she said.
"We're about to go through a period that
has never been seen before. A lot of people
are afraid of it. I'm not. I saw it coming,
and we have developed an innovative plan
forward." As a result, UAM has been doing
things differently for the last two years
to help promote positive change and be a
change agent in the industry.
Her team isn't worried either.
"I see her continuing exactly as she is
but with new ideas and new plans that
will dramatically affect the marketplace,"
Kenney said.
"See what happens in five years," Kling
said. "Her story is yet to be written."
Jetrader * Spring 2016 39
Jetrader - Spring 2016

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