MEET OUR TEAM

Natalia Cimpean

CEO

ncimpean@flyhaa.com
1.503.726.3000

Natalia joined Hillsboro Aero Academy, formerly Hillsboro Aviation, in 2008. Prior to working at Hillsboro, she held various management positions, including Executive Director for a start-up company and Business Manager for a construction company. Natalia holds a bachelor’s degree in math and a Master of Business Administration from George Fox University.

She began her career at Hillsboro as a member of the accounting team and has been consistently promoted over time to CFO and GM, COO, and now CEO. Natalia has a passion for the aviation industry and for people who are part of it.

Houston Hickenbottom

Operations

houston@flyhaa.com
1.503.726.3000

Houston started at Hillsboro Aviation in 1996 and has held multiple positions in the company, including over eight years as the School Director.  After more than 15 years working in the school, Houston went to work for the Port of Portland at Portland International Airport (PDX).  In 2019, Houston returned to Hillsboro Aero Academy to support the training and operations teams.

Houston is a graduate of San Jose State University and holds an airplane Private Pilot Certificate.

Craig Hall

Controller

chall@flyhaa.com
1.503.726.3000

Craig began his career at Hillsboro Aero Academy in 2019. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from the University of Oregon and an MBA from Portland State University. He is new to the aviation industry but has extensive experience in accounting and operations garnered through various roles in the distribution and logistics industries.

Craig oversees the day-to-day activities in the accounting department and is responsible for the timely and accurate reporting of the company’s operational results. If you don’t find him combing through a spreadsheet, you will likely find him somewhere in the outdoors where he likes to spend his free time.

Though not a pilot yet, some of Craig’s fondest memories as a youth were spent flying with his grandfather, a former Air Force pilot, in his twin-engine Baron.

Brett Hart

Director of Business Development

bhart@flyhaa.com
1.503.726.3000

Brett started at Hillsboro Aero Academy in 2016. He received both his bachelor’s degree in public administration and marketing and his master’s in public administration from the University of Central Florida in Orlando, Florida. Prior to joining Hillsboro Aero Academy, Brett spent several years leading the admissions team for a flight school in Florida. As Director of Business Development and Partner Relations, Brett is responsible for the recruiting new student groups and supporting our partners including collegiate partners, industry operators, and international representatives.

Brett is planning on starting his private pilot training in 2017.

Amy Smith

Director of Sales and Marketing

asmith@flyhaa.com
1.503.726.3000

Amy started at Hillsboro Aero Academy, formerly Hillsboro Aviation, in 2009. She holds both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in business administration from Gonzaga University. Prior to joining Hillsboro Aero Academy, Amy worked in marketing for non-profit and financial service companies. As the Director of Sales and Marketing, she is responsible for all marketing communications, digital strategy, and brand management in addition to overseeing our admissions team in the recruitment of new students from across the globe.

Nik Kresse

Director of Flight Training & China Program Manager

nkresse@flyhaa.com
1.541.362.5644

Nik began flight training at Montana State University in Bozeman, Montana where he completed his multi-engine commercial training. In 2011, Nik moved home to Portland and began training at Hillsboro to complete his Certified Flight Instructor Rating. He has held positions such as China Program Ground Instructor prior to moving to Central Oregon and becoming Chief Instructor of Prineville and Redmond campuses. Due to his success running our China Program, he was promoted to Director of Flight Training and now oversees all of our airplane operations at the Hillsboro, Redmond and Las Vegas campuses.

Chuck Hagele

Director of Maintenance

chagele@flyhaa.com
1.503.726.3000

Chuck started his aviation career in 1988 while in high school learning to fly and work on aircraft. On his 16th birthday, he completed his first solo flight. Chuck is an instrument-rated airplane private pilot. He completed his flight training in 2002 at Hillsboro Aero Academy, formerly Hillsboro Aviation. With a primarily maintenance-focused career, Chuck is an A&P mechanic with inspection authorization. Before coming to Hillsboro Aero Academy in 2015, Chuck held the Chief Inspector position for five years at a part 145 repair station and the Director of Maintenance position for three years at a part 135 EMS operator where he worked for 12 years. Chuck holds an associate’s degree in aviation science from Eastern New Mexico University.

Blake Segoria

Director of Standardization

bsegoria@flyhaa.com
1.503.726.3000

Blake began flight training at Pacific Union College in Angwin, CA in 2005 and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in aviation and his Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) Rating and Multi-Engine Instructor (MEI) Rating. Blake joined Hillsboro Aero Academy, formerly Hillsboro Aviation, in 2011 and worked extensively with our China program in Troutdale as a ground instructor and then as the Airplane Assistant Chief Instructor. In 2015, he accepted the China Program Manager position overseeing all aspects of our Chinese training program at each campus and then accepted the position of Chief Instructor for the Troutdale Campus. Blake’s extensive experience overseeing our airplane training operations makes him the perfect person to serve as our Director of Standardization.

Carrie Williams

Director of Compliance & School Director

cwilliams@flyhaa.com
1.503.726.3000

Originally from Florida, Carrie came to Hillsboro via Arizona 8 years ago following her pilot husband. She has a bachelor’s degree from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and spent 10 years working at Embry-Riddle in flight records, scheduling, and systems administration. Carrie joined the Hillsboro Aero Academy team in 2016. In her current role as Director of Compliance/School Director, Carrie oversees compliance for accreditation, student visas, TSA and the VA.

In her spare time, Carrie enjoys anything soccer related, hiking, and getting her toes into the sand as often as possible.

Mark Clark

Director of Safety

mclark@flyhaa.com
1.503.726.3000

Mark comes to Hillsboro Aero Academy with a varied and diverse background in safety. He is rated in both fixed wing and rotorcraft and is type rated as a second in command in the S-64 (Skycranes).

Mark worked for in law enforcement for 35 years, retiring in 2015 as a Sergeant with the Beaverton Police Department. While working as a police officer, Mark also instructed part-time for Hillsboro. During his career, Mark helped to start the air support units in Beaverton and Washington County where he was not only a pilot but was also the Training and Safety Officer. As the Safety Officer, Mark implemented their Safety Management System which is still in use today.

Upon his retirement, Mark flew helicopters for Hillsboro Aviation and Helicopter Transport Systems in many operations, including contract/charter, pipeline patrol, wildlife survey, tours, and most recently as a co-pilot in the Skycranes flying both fire and construction.

Mark has been married to his wife Michelle for 32 years and they have two sons; Daniel, who works in construction, and Matthew who is an Apache mechanic in the US Army.

Lavinia Petre

Human Resources Manager

lpetre@flyhaa.com
1.503.726.3000

Lavinia joined Hillsboro in 2013. It was her first exposure to aviation, after spending 7 years in the education field. She is enthusiastic about supporting HAA’s mission of making worldwide dreams of aviation a reality through the best training.

In her current role as the Human Resources Manager, Lavinia provides assistance in both operational and strategic HR practices and oversees all aspects of human resources management.

She is very passionate about Japanese culture and sushi, having spent a year living abroad; loves to laugh and spend time with her amazing family outdoors.