NBAA’s YoPro Program to Celebrate Five Years at NBAA-BACE

Sept. 11, 2018

In just a few years, NBAA’s Young Professionals in Business Aviation (YoPro) program has grown from a single networking reception held at the 2014 NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE) into a multi-faceted industry workforce development initiative. As a demonstration of how far the program has come in that time, NBAA’s YoPro Council will present a full schedule of events at this year’s convention, Oct. 16-18 in Orlando, FL, to celebrate its fifth anniversary.

“YoPro is important to NBAA’s goal to attract and retain professionals to serve in the industry,” said Sierra Grimes, NBAA manager of registration and founder of the NBAA YoPro program. “We want to facilitate the recruitment and development of qualified new talent necessary to grow the industry.”

As the leadership arm of NBAA’s YoPro initiative, the YoPro Council will use the occasion of NBAA-BACE to recognize the inaugural class of NBAA’s Business Aviation Top 40 Under 40. “This is a retention tool rolled out for the industry through the YoPro Council to recognize accomplished young professionals,” Grimes said. “The Top 40 are chosen because of their industry involvement, innovative spirit and character attributes that demonstrate a dedication to the business aviation community.”

YoPro program organizers have a full slate of activities scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 16, the opening day of NBAA-BACE, including:

• A panel titled “Young Professionals: Changing the Face of Business Aviation” to discuss how the industry can effectively bolster both its workforce and clientele by engaging young professionals.
• A panel titled “Quick Ascent: Perspectives from Rising Industry Leaders,” featuring a few Top 40 Under 40 recipients who will discuss their pathways to success, practical strategies for developing young talent and the value of building industry connections.
• The annual YoPro Networking Reception.

Grimes said the YoPro events at NBAA-BACE continue to grow each year.

“We receive buy-in from many legacy companies through sponsorship and attendance at our sessions and reception,” she said. “The Baby Boomer generation within the industry has embraced the importance of this program, as they see it as a necessary tool to continue not only the longevity of this dynamic industry but also the evolution of the industry as technology and innovation continue to impact it.”

Learn more about the NBAA Young Professionals in Business Aviation (YoPro) program.