Next week, the business aviation community will gather in Las Vegas for the industry's largest event—NBAA-BACE. As usual, I’m very excited to connect with colleagues and friends. It is always a highlight of my year!
With more than 40 educational sessions and countless opportunities for networking and learning, this year's convention is shaping up to be a must-attend event for anyone serious about their professional growth. And as someone who has spent nearly 25 years helping aviation leaders build teams, I’m thrilled to see that workforce sessions are taking center stage.
Of the 40 sessions scheduled at BACE, at least 10 are dedicated workforce sessions. These cover everything from professional development and career-building strategies to culture-building techniques and compensation trends.
As we all know, the business aviation industry is built on the passion, skills, and dedication of its people. That’s why these sessions matter so much. It’s about coming together to share solutions for attracting and retaining talent, and creating healthy workplace environments to ensure that we have the skills and leadership to meet the future demands of our industry.
If you’re planning on attending NBAA-BACE, I encourage you to prioritize several of the following workforce sessions. Many of them offer Certified Aviation Manager (CAM) credits, which is a bonus for those working toward their NBAA CAM certificate. And with a diverse group of experts—including legal, HR, and aviation operations professionals—these panels are sure to spark meaningful conversations and provide actionable takeaways.
Key Workforce Sessions To Attend
One of the workforce sessions I’m most excited to be part of is my own! I’ll be moderating “Elevating Aviation Maintenance: Strategies for Retention and Growth.” I’m pleased to host a distinguished panel of aviation maintenance experts: Ed Chitren, Qualcomm; Andrew Cosgrove, MBA, CAM, Walmart; Bill Hart, CAM, Verizon; and Cobi Lane, Duncan Aviation.
Together, we’ll explore key challenges for maintenance leaders, such as retaining skilled professionals and balancing work/life demands with competitive compensation. We’ll also cover how mentorship fosters professional development. Additionally, we’ll highlight how emerging technologies can make aviation maintenance a more attractive career path for the next generation.
But this is just one of many sessions that address workforce topics head-on. There are several others.
For instance, my colleague Jennifer E. Pickerel will co-moderate “Enhancing Employee Experience: Culture, Compensation & Beyond” with Chris Broyhill, CAM. Their session will explore how to build positive workplace cultures and tackle compensation challenges in a way that supports retention and attracts top talent.
They’ll go beyond salary to look at creating compensation packages that recognize the full value of employees and share strategies for fostering equitable work environments where everyone can thrive.
More Can’t-miss Workforce Topics
There are many more workforce sessions that should be on your radar:
- “Shape Workforce Development Programs that Create Lasting Impact.” Trailblazing captain, Aviation Experience CEO/founder, National Geographic Explorer, and lifelong educator/mentor Barrington Irving is one of the top aviation workforce development leaders. Learn how to build impactful programs that go beyond recruiting and focus on development and retention, creating lasting value for your organization.
- “Do You Have a Career or a Purpose?” During this session, you will explore the distinction between a professional career and a sense of purpose. Plus, learning how to align your career goals with personal values can lead to a more fulfilling professional life.
- “Securing Your Flight Department’s Future.” As a flight department leader, do you have a proactive strategy for your organization’s longevity? Does leadership understand the value of the aviation operation to the company? This panel will discuss succession planning and the strategies needed to ensure your department is positioned for long-term success.
- “Workforce Development: Unlocking Potential, Cultivating Psychological Safety Including Caregivers.” In this session, discover how to build a culture that values inclusivity and safety, with a focus on supporting caregivers and underrepresented groups. Learn practical strategies like flexible policies, tailored support, and initiatives that foster belonging, drive innovation, and strengthen safety culture.
- “Charter a Pathway for Your Career.” Are you ready to take a leap into the fast-paced charter operations segment of business aviation? This dynamic session is your gateway to becoming a leader in operations and maintenance within the charter world.
Why This Matters
The workforce challenges we face in business aviation are not going away. In fact, they’re becoming more complex as we continue to grow and evolve as an industry.
It’s no longer enough to simply fill open positions. We need to think holistically about creating environments where people want to stay and build their careers. That means prioritizing professional development, fostering inclusive cultures to ensure that our compensation strategies are competitive, and being forward-thinking.
As a longtime HR leader in this industry, I see firsthand the impact that a strong organizational culture can have. People don’t leave companies—they leave managers, toxic environments, and stagnation. So, these workforce sessions aren’t just about strategies, they’re about the future of our industry.
Plan Your Calendar
Let’s make the most of this time together in Las Vegas. Whether you’re an executive looking to create a better culture, a professional seeking to grow your career, or a manager trying to retain your top talent, there’s something here for everyone.
Bring your questions, your ideas, and your commitment to building a stronger, more resilient workforce. After all, this event is not just about business aviation—it’s about people. See you there!
Sheryl Barden, CAM, is CEO of Aviation Personnel International, the longest-running recruiting and HR consulting firm exclusively serving business aviation. A thought leader on all things related to business aviation professionals, Barden is an NBAA CAM Fellow and formerly served on NBAA’s board of directors and its advisory council.
The opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and are not necessarily endorsed by AIN Media Group.