MEET OUR TEAM

Jon Hay

President & CEO

jhay@flyhaa.com
1.503.726.3000

Jon’s career began in 1996 when he started at Hillsboro Aviation as maintenance shop intern while earning his A&P license at Portland Community College. After earning his A&P, Jon worked in the maintenance shop for nine years supporting school operations and helicopter firefighting contracts. He also served as the Airplane Charter Lead Mechanic and started the company’s Robinson R22 overhaul department.

While working at Hillsboro Aviation, Jon received his bachelor’s degree in aviation from Multnomah University and his helicopter Private Pilot Certificate. After graduating in 2005, Jon took over management of the flight school. In 2009, Jon was promoted to General Manager and held this position until 2014 when Hillsboro Aviation sold its flight training business. The school is now known as Hillsboro Aero Academy, and Jon became the CEO and President. Jon is also an investor/owner of Hillsboro Aero Academy and serves on its board of directors.

Natalia Cimpean

CFO

ncimpean@flyhaa.com
1.503.726.3000

Natalia joined Hillsboro Aero Academy, formerly Hillsboro Aviation, in 2008. Prior to working here, she held different management positions from Executive Director for a start-up company to Business Manager for a construction company. Natalia holds a bachelor’s degree in math and a Master of Business Administration from George Fox University. Currently, Natalia is working on her airplane Private Pilot Certificate.

During her time with the company, she has had different responsibilities in accounting, customer service and management.

Houston Hickenbottom

COO

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 in his new position as the Chief Operating Officer.  In this role, Houston is responsible for the flight and maintenance operations at all four of Hillsboro’s campuses.

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

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.

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.

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.

Shasta Sevcik

Operations Manager

ssevcik@flyhaa.com
1.503.726.3000

Shasta started at Hillsboro Aero Academy, formerly Hillsboro Aviation, in 2005 as an airplane student through the Portland Community College Aviation Science program. When she began her training, she also worked as a dispatcher and was later promoted to Lead Dispatcher, a position she held from 2006-2013. Shasta has a bachelor’s degree in professional aeronautics with a minor in aviation management from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and has her airplane Private Pilot Certificate. In 2014, she took the opportunity of backpacking solo for nine months to pursue her passion for travel and experiencing new cultures. Upon her return from traveling, she worked for Hillsboro Aviation Inc. and Life Flight Network. As the Operations Manager at Hillsboro Aero Academy, Shasta is responsible for the dispatch and scheduling departments for every campus.

Ashley Souza

Talent Acquisition Manager

asouza@flyhaa.com
1.503.726.3000

Ashley began working in the aviation field eight years ago. She joined the Hillsboro Aero Academy team in 2015 as the flight coordinator for the airplane training school. Shortly after, she began working in the admissions department to support prospective students from all over the world. Ashley’s current the role at Hillsboro Aero Academy is recruiting and hiring flight instructors for employment.

Ashley took her first introduction flight in a Cessna 182 back in 2010 at the Klamath Falls Airport in Oregon. After a few seconds on the flight controls, she knew she was destined for aviation and began taking flight lessons. It was love at first bank. Ashley earned her wings in 2014, and is currently working on her Commercial Pilot Certificate. She enjoys aerobatic flights, chasing sunsets from the sky and inspiring others to follow their own flight path.

Mackenzie Arrell

Admissions Lead

marrell@flyhaa.com
1.503.726.3000

Mackenzie’s first time in an airplane was when a family friend, an Air Force Veteran, rented an aircraft from Hillsboro Aviation when she was thirteen. Five years later, she returned to film her friend flying a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress as a birthday gift. She has also been attending the Oregon International Air Show since she was a child.

Prior to joining Hillsboro Aero Academy in 2018, Mackenzie received her bachelor’s degree in sociology and minority studies from Portland State University and spent several years working in education and low-income health services. As the Lead Admissions Representative, Mackenzie is responsible for overseeing our admissions team and supporting students once they have been accepted into our school.

As of today, Mackenzie has yet to begin her flight training, but working with passionate aviation students encourages her to do so more every day.