From Student Involvement to Airline Operations: Kevin Klimas’ Aviation Management Path
Advice from close friends generally can lead to one of two outcomes -- a bad experience in a perilous place or a life-altering productive event.
It was the latter for Kevin Klimas, a senior majoring in aviation management and operations in the WMU College of Aviation.
Two buddies lured Klimas to an informational meeting focusing on the Western chapter of Alpha Eta Rho, a coed professional aviation business fraternity, that links higher education to all aspects of the aviation industry, promoting careers in that field, in aeronautical engineering and in the aerospace sciences.
"Originally," he says, "I was worried about getting involved in a student organization, but I haven't looked back since. I couldn't be more thankful to those friends for involving me and introducing me to a group that I would call family today."
"Involved" is an understatement. Klimas, whose Michigan roots are sunk into the community of Howell near Ann Arbor, first served as the chapter's membership coordinator and currently reigns as its president.
Klimas' formative years saw him in Lake Villa, Ill., a northern suburb of Chicago. He graduated from Lakes Community High School in 2022.
One of the more popular "pop" songs of the 1950s was "Little Things Mean A Lot." One "little thing" plotted a career course. As part of a family flight from Denver to Chicago, the young Klimas was invited by the pilots to sit in the cockpit and pepper them with questions.
"That sparked my interest in aviation," he says, leading to his participation in the Experimental Aircraft Association Young Eagles program at a nearby airport.
As his high school years neared an end, Klimas looked at what was available in aviation at the college level. He reviewed the programs at Southern Illinois University, Purdue and North Dakota. But the winner -- and still champ -- was WMU. "Western's quality stood out for me," he says. "I really enjoy the fact that I was just far enough away from home, but close enough that I can make an easy trip back if needed."
Klimas' Alpha Eta Rho linkage stands out. "It's a fantastic organization," he says, that has taught him "invaluable things, made quality connections with professionals in the industry, and netted me friends for life. I've been able to attend two of the fraternity's national symposiums."
A different kind of resume building took place on the basketball court as opposed to being up in the clouds. Klimas has served as a "scout team player" that suits up against the WMU women's basketball team as the Broncos practice for their next game.
Closer to a career builder has been his connection to Envoy Air and its operations at the Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport since his sophomore year.
"I have learned all about the operational focus of an airline," says Klimas about his two-year stint with the regional airline that employs 22,000 while offering 1,000 daily flights to more than 160 destinations.
"I love the fact that the position has turned into something that I can see myself expanding into in the long term," he says. " I also love that a large portion of our Envoy team is a part of Western's aviation program and a part of Alpha Eta Rho. It produces a very tight-knit team."
Klimas can apply to his Envoy duties many of the lessons learned from a course in corporate aviation management taught by Greg Hamlink. "It was by far my favorite class," he says. "And not only because it taught me a lot. I enjoyed it because it was based on real-life information and situations."
When he's not in class or working on realistic issues at the Kalamazoo airport, Klimas regards himself as a person who loves the outdoors, the latest in music, taking walks along nearby Asylum Lake, and warm-weather boating. And he's always open to embracing new friends.
As his Bronco years near their climax, Klimas is endeared by the cadre of quality people he has crossed paths with on campus and in the Kalamazoo area.
That will always be a part of him as he faces the next step in his career. "My future goal is to move back to Chicago or to a new city and start working for a great aviation company with a great company culture. And maybe become the CEO of that company."
Stay tuned, folks.