Today we’d like to introduce you to Terry Yoder.
Hi Terry, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
As a young boy, I always wanted to be a missionary pilot. As the college years approached, I researched what it would take to become a missionary pilot, and made the decision to attend the relatively new aviation training program at Grace College of the Bible in Omaha, NE. After receiving training and earning certification as an aircraft maintenance technician, my wife and I moved to West Michigan where she grew up.
I worked for 15 years as an aircraft maintenance technician in West Michigan, along with a couple other jobs with a technical nature. I used my skills as as an aircraft maintenance technician to pay for training as a private pilot. Life circumstances and decisions allowed me to fly periodically, but I was never able to earn any advanced flight certificates or ratings.
One year after the events of 9/11/01, the work I was doing in aviation maintenance was negatively impacted, and we moved to the east side of Michigan where I got a job teaching in an aviation maintenance training school. A couple years later, I had the opportunity to substitute teach in the Christian school our daughters were attending. That opportunity turned into a career change in which I pursued a degree in school administration, and became a Christian school administrator after teaching four years.
After spending ten years in Christian K-12 school administration, God gave me the opportunity to bring my experiences in aviation and school administration into a combined role as president/CEO at the School of Missionary Aviation Technology. Today, I continue to enjoy this role that I never had in my plans!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has not been a smooth road. I have experienced disappointment, and even feelings of inadequacy, especially as I attempted to pursue my dreams of being a missionary pilot, but always bumping into closed doors. Moving my family to a different part of Michigan where we had no family or friends was a great challenge, but a time of growing together, in addition to gaining valuable experiences that prepared me for the position I now enjoy.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I currently serve in the role of president/CEO at the School of Missionary Aviation Technology. The school specializes in training individuals to serve as pilots and/or aviation maintenance technicians in support of church, missions, and humanitarian organizations around the world where aviation is not just a tool of convenience, but one of necessity. I am proud of the men and women who are trained at SMAT and go on to serve God and others through aviation in over 30 different countries around the world!
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
I consider that I am succeeding in my role if those who work at SMAT enjoy their work, are good at what they are responsible to do, and have adequate resources to carry out their work. Further, I consider it a success when our students earn their FAA certification, and receive placement with an employer or mission organization who is happy they hired a SMAT graduate.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://smat.edu/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smataviation/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/smataviation
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRRAo5yD3LBIUVEI1Z1V5tw
Image Credits
TinyTV Studios
https://tinytvstudios.com/
