At the beginning of August, thousands of aviation professionals and enthusiasts from across the country flocked to New Orleans to take part in the 47th Annual Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals (OBAP) Conference. Members from the Envoy Air Operations Recruitment team attended the conference and interacted with hundreds of folks who were looking to learn more about what a career at Envoy looks like.
“From pilots to mechanics to flight attendants, we got to meet face-to-face with people from all different backgrounds and levels of experience to tell them about everything we have to offer,” said Envoy Director of Maintenance Quality Control Jared Harvey. “Diversity and inclusion are big elements of Envoy’s culture, and as a member of OBAP myself, I felt it was important to come be a part of this conference and help further the legacy OBAP has already built.”
As a Champion Level sponsor of this year’s conference, Envoy had a special opportunity to host one of the most exciting events of the week – OBAP Youth Day. This event gave students from New Orleans area schools a rare opportunity to talk to professionals from across the aviation industry to learn more about what a career in aviation entails.
“The youth were able to speak to our pilots about the different paths they took to get to the flight deck, and I was able to share more about working on the corporate side of the industry,” said Envoy Air Operations Recruiter Requel Henry. “Many people think that to work in aviation you have to be a pilot or a flight attendant. I was able to show them that there are so many other ways to work in the industry.”
After the students got some face time in with our team, they attended a unique and interactive learning session led by Dr. Darryl Baynes, a scientist and pilot who advocates for making STEM education fun and engaging. From there, they enjoyed a luncheon where they listened to some of their peers speak about the incredible strides they’ve made on their own paths to their future careers in aviation.
The conversations had on the expo floor were just one part of the conference. When the doors to the exhibit hall closed on the second night of the conference, everyone put on their crispest all-white outfits and stepped outside to take part in a New Orleans tradition – the second line.
From the steps of the conference hotel down to the river, members of the second line followed the grand marshal and his band all the way to the famous Paddlewheeler Creole Queen where they enjoyed the rest of the evening cruising the Mississippi River and socializing with their peers.
“This conference was a great opportunity to celebrate and connect with OBAP and its members,” said Requel. “One of their largest initiatives is to include diversity in the aerospace industry, so we’re grateful to play a part in that and we look forward to what next year’s conference will bring.”
We’re looking forward to next year’s conference!