(From left) Eugene W. Harris, dean of the Community College of Beaver County’s James M. Johnson School of Aviation Sciences; Nathaniel Denault, founder and director of operations at Aerial Applications and administrative/curriculum developer at Aerium; David N. Taylor, president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Manufacturers’ Association; and Glenn Ponas, executive director of Aerium, join VAI’s Josh Rousseau at the 46th Annual Aviation Council of Pennsylvania Conference & Aerium Education Summit in Reading, Pennsylvania, Oct. 7–9.
Connecting talent with opportunity: Collaboration takes center stage in Pennsylvania education summit
Industry, education, and government leaders unite in Reading to strengthen career pathways.
By VAI Staff
The 46th Annual Aviation Council of Pennsylvania Conference & Aerium Fall Education Summit in Reading, Pennsylvania, last week provided a valuable opportunity to engage with leaders across industry, education, and government on one of aviation’s most important priorities: developing the workforce needed to support the next generation of aerospace, vertical aviation, and advanced air mobility.
Reading’s deep manufacturing and aviation heritage served as an ideal backdrop for conversations focused on workforce development and industry growth. Throughout the conference, which took place Oct. 7–9, VAI US Northeastern Regional Representative Josh Rousseau connected with educators, students, operators, policymakers, and business leaders committed to strengthening pathways into aviation careers. His discussions with educators reinforced a common theme: The educational programs, training resources, and industry partnerships largely exist; the challenge is making those opportunities more visible, accessible, and connected.
Across both days of the event, one message remained consistent: Innovation can only advance as quickly as the workforce supporting it.
During the summit, Rousseau was honored to join a workforce development panel alongside moderator Glenn Ponas, executive director of Aerium; Eugene W. Harris, dean of the Community College of Beaver County’s James M. Johnson School of Aviation Sciences; David N. Taylor, president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Manufacturers’ Association; Justine Kasznica, founder and board chair of Keystone Space Collaborative; and Nathaniel Denault, founder and director of operations at Aerial Applications and administrative/curriculum developer at Aerium. The panel discussed how industry and education can better align to create clear pathways into aviation careers. Contributions from workforce and career development leaders highlighted the importance of connecting students directly with real-world opportunities.
That commitment was evident during the Reading Aviation Career Fair, held in conjunction with the conference. The event brought together approximately 1,500 students and job seekers and more than 30 aviation organizations and exhibitors, providing hands-on exposure to career opportunities spanning piloting, maintenance, air traffic control, unmanned aircraft systems operations, manufacturing, and emerging aviation technologies. Aircraft displays, simulators, demonstrations, and direct interaction with industry professionals helped showcase the breadth of opportunities available across aviation.
Conference discussions also underscored the critical role of state leadership and regional collaboration. Rousseau’s engagement with Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) Sec. Mike Carroll, PennDOT Bureau of Aviation Director Anthony McCloskey, National Association of State Aviation Officials President and CEO Greg Pecoraro, and others focused on topics including VAI member priorities, the Pennsylvania AIR Act, workforce readiness, infrastructure investment, and the safe integration of emerging aviation technologies. Across both days of the event, one message remained consistent: Innovation can only advance as quickly as the workforce supporting it.
The takeaway from Reading was clear: Aviation’s workforce challenge isn’t a lack of opportunity. By strengthening connections between students, educators, employers, and policymakers, we can ensure that the talent pipeline is ready to support the future of vertical aviation and the broader aerospace industry.
