Our Team

With well over 20 years of flight experience, Joel’s passion for flight knows no bounds. In 2002 Joel earned his private pilot certificate, later attending the International Air Land Emergency Resource Team (ALERT) Academy where he obtained his instrument rating along with his commercial and flight instructor certificates.

At over 5,000 hours of flight instruction, Joel now leads the staff at Sweet Aviation and passionately assists the aviation enthusiasts of Fort Wayne with reaching their dreams of flight. He is type rated in Sweet Aviation’s Cirrus Vision Jet, certified to fly client’s T-28, as well as highly skilled in aerobatic maneuvers in the Super Decathlon.

Katelyn comes from a long line of flying enthusiasts. Her family were members of the Yankee Air Force and for a time were associated with the Yankee Air Museum in Belleville, Michigan. In addition, her grandfather worked in a B-24 bomber plant during WW2 and her father served in the Air Force where he worked on F-16s.

Katelyn attained her private pilot certificate from Purdue University and completed the remainder of her training at LIFT Academy. She recently attained her certificate to become an Advanced Ground Instructor as well. In addition, Katelyn also graduated from Ivy Tech Indianapolis with an associate’s degree in general studies and a technical certificate in business administration too.

When not at work Katelyn enjoys spending time outdoors with her husband Joshua and their children hiking through local and state parks.

Lorin began his journey in aviation in 2003 at the ALERT Academy in Texas, eventually obtaining his private pilot license, instrument rating, A&P license, and CFI/CFII.

Born in Northwest Indiana, Lorin moved to Fort Wayne with his wife and what he enjoys most about Sweet Aviation is the opportunity to share in the joy of flight with his students as well as guide them to becoming safe and proficient pilots.

Joe logged his first pilot in command time in 1979, since then he has flown 14,000 hours as a private, charter, and instructor. After retiring from Dana Corporation with 31 years of seniority he is finally working his dream job as a charter pilot at Sweet Aviation. He loves to help his passengers have a safe and stress-free trip every time.

In addition to being a charter pilot, Joe is also a single and multi-engine engine airline transport pilot, single and multi-engine instrument flight instructor, King Air 350 type rating.

Joe lives in Auburn with his wife of nearly 40 years Pat, their Golden Retriever, and a cat, and has two grown daughters. In his spare time he loves to run, lift weights, read military history, and of course fly.

A Fort Wayne native, Tyson first got his taste of flying at Smith Field with the Young Eagles. He followed that passion through high school, participating in programs that led him towards his A&P license. He later graduated from Indiana State University with a degree in Professional Flight Technology while playing football for the Sycamores.

Tyson also has his private, instrument, commercial, and CFI/CFII certificates and is eager to share his passion for flying with the Fort Wayne community.

Growing up in Bolivia flying mission aviation airplanes, Paul’s passion for flying is vast. He earned his private, instrument, commercial and A&P licenses at the school of Missionary Aviation Technology in Michigan, later spending a few years working as a pilot and A&P in both Indonesia and Bolivia.

Previously, Paul worked in Indianapolis obtaining his multi-engine commercial and CFI ratings.

He enjoys sharing his unique experience and passion for aviation with others as well as spending time with his wife, Jami, and their four children.

Originally from Fort Wayne, Rachel joined the Sweet Aviation family in 2015 and has over fifteen years of customer service experience. She is a graduate of Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne with a bachelor’s in psychology and is looking forward to becoming a pilot herself soon.

Growing up in Bolivia flying mission aviation airplanes, Paul’s passion for flying is vast. He earned his private, instrument, commercial and A&P licenses at the school of Missionary Aviation Technology in Michigan, later spending a few years working as a pilot and A&P in both Indonesia and Bolivia.

Previously, Paul worked in Indianapolis obtaining his multi-engine commercial and CFI ratings.

He enjoys sharing his unique experience and passion for aviation with others as well as spending time with his wife, Jami, and their four children.

Josh currently resides in Northwest Ohio and is a recent aviation enthusiast. He earned his instructor rating here at Sweet Aviation and continues to pursue additional training, ratings, and certifications.

Alex grew up in Williamsburg, Virginia, and graduated from Texas State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Finance. Alex completed his private, instrument, commercial (single and multi), CFI, CFII, and MEI at ATP in Richmond, Virginia. Alex is also a Staff Sergeant in the Indiana Air National Guard.

Alex loves sharing his passion for aviation and is continually looking for new ways to learn and grow as an instructor and a pilot.

Bio coming soon!

Spencer grew up in Goshen, Indiana where his passion for aviation grew with him. During his time in high school, he got his first taste of aviation when he took lessons at his local airport and eventually earned his private pilot certificate. Afterward, Spencer started his career by participating in internship programs at his local airport. Later, he pursued a degree in Professional Aviation Flight Technology at Indiana State University where he would earn his instrument commercial, CFI, and AGI certificates. Soon after graduating Spencer joined Sweet Aviation. Spencer is excited to share his passion for aviation while helping others achieve their dreams.

After bouncing around between majors in college, Ryan happened upon aviation by accident on his commute through his grandparents’ small town in Northwest Indiana. One discovery flight is all it took for him to radically switch tracks to pursue flying. This is where he, “Caught the bug!”

This passion for flying only deepened upon enlisting in the Air National Guard at Fort Wayne’s 122nd Fighter Wing, home of the Blacksnakes. During his enlistment in the reserves, Ryan worked on his Private, Instrument, Commercial, and CFI licenses, all while holding a full-time job. Currently, Ryan is working to achieve his CFII & bachelor’s degree from Liberty University’s aviation program.

Outside of flying, Ryan is a husband to a great wife, dog dad, major foodie and coffee fiend, musician, and thrill seeker of all things. Ryan believes you should love what you do even on the hard days.

Zach comes from a long line of pilots. His father, grandfather, and grandmother are all private pilots. Having grown up in Sylvania, Ohio Zach would attend Bowling Green State University where he would major in Business and Marketing Education. In addition, Zach would serve in the Ohio Army National Guard where he was a tank commander. Zach attained his private pilot license at Suburban Aviation in Lambertville, Michigan, Instrument Rating and Commercial Pilot License at ATP in Nashville, Tennessee, and CFI, CFII, and MEI Licenses at Midwest Corporate Air in Bellefontaine ,Ohio.

Connor was born in Germany as the son of an Army aviator and comes from a long line of pilots and aviation enthusiasts. He knew he wanted to be a pilot at a young age and after moving to Utah finally took the plunge into an aviation career. Connor did all his training in Salt Lake City before moving to Fort Wayne to join the Sweet Aviation team. He hopes to pass on his passion for flying to new pilots and continue to grow as a pilot and as an instructor.

Born and raised in Fort Wayne, Derek didn’t have a clue what he wanted to be when he grew up. After visiting an out-of-state college, he was sitting on a window seat home from New York when the plane broke out of the clouds into what he had only seen in his visions of heaven.

His passion for aviation grew quickly and he went to Purdue University for their Professional Flight Program in the fall. While studying there, he got all the way from his Private Pilot Certificate to his CFII. During that time he met some awesome friends, had some great memories, widened his network, and came home to develop and grow more at Sweet Aviation.

Elizabeth’s interest in flight runs deep. She attended the Army Aviation Flight School at Fort Rucker as a commissioned officer where she learned to fly several different types of helicopters including the Blackhawk. Then, after a deployment to Afghanistan, she took the Captain’s Career Course back here in the US before ending her military service with a deployment to South Korea. Currently, she’s a flight instructor for Sweet Aviation where she helps our students learn and achieve their goals. When not flying, Elizabeth enjoys spending time rock climbing and mountaineering with her husband Daniel.

Rick’s done it all from Air Force pilot training on T-37 and T-38 aircraft, flying several planes in the American Airlines fleet around the world, to being a check airman and instructor and so much more.

Experience spanning nearly 50 years and an unprecedented passion Rick is the ultimate aircraft enthusiast. His early days were spent right here in Fort Wayne at Smith Field and his passion led him all across the globe.

Bio coming soon!

Cameron has had a passion for aviation from a young age. Inspired by two family Navy pilots, he went on to earn an Aerospace Engineering degree from Virginia Tech. After graduation, he enjoyed a stint as a flight test engineer flying on Rolls-Royce’s 747 flying test bed and Boeing’s 787-8 flight test fleet. While working, Cameron completed flight training in a variety of places — Indiana, Texas, Washington, and Ohio, and earned his sport, private, instrument, commercial, and CFI certificates.

When not flying, Cameron enjoys spending time with his beautiful and talented wife and awesome kids. They love traveling, camping, and hiking together.

Bob is no stranger to the aviation community in Fort Wayne having been an instructor in the area since 1987. He enjoys sharing his enthusiasm for aviation with others, volunteering with the EAA Young Eagles, Scouting’s Aviation Explorers, and the Civil Air Patrol.

Bob is rated for single-engine land with instrument and commercial privileges plus glider and multi-engine endorsements.

Since the age of six, Carter has had a deep rooted love of aviation. While in his senior year of high school in Danville, Indiana, Carter earned his private airplane pilot certification and has since obtained his airplane instrument rating, helicopter private pilot certificate, helicopter commercial certificate, and his helicopter certified flight instructor certificate.

Carter currently lives in Bluffton, Indiana and is working toward his degree in mathematics at Indiana University East.

Originally from Detroit, Michigan, Sean graduated with honors from the US Air Force Academy with a bachelor’s in political science and a German language minor. He went on to serve eleven years on active duty as an Air Force Special Operations Pilot, logging over 2,100 hours of flight time including 1,000 hours of combat over Iraq and Afghanistan. For his accomplishments Sean was awarded a Bronze Star and eleven Air Medals.

In addition to aircraft, Sean is also passionate about his faith and earned his master’s in Theological Studies from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary while attending A&P school.

Sean enjoys spending time with his four daughters, as well as camping, traveling, and hunting.

Austin earned his A&P and commercial pilot certificates from the School of Missionary Aviation Technology and has had a career as an aircraft mechanic and flown aerial survey missions across the United States.

Austin later graduated from Ethnos360 Bible Institute with an associate’s in biblical studies. He and his wife, Katie, have have a daughter and hope to one day fly with Ethnos360 as overseas missionaries.

Colton grew up in Minnesota where he developed a love for fishing, hunting, and snowmobiling. After graduating high school, he joined the United States Navy as an ordnanceman, maintaining ammunition on board the USS John C. Stennis. He went on to serve two deployments: the first in the South China Sea and the other in the Persian Gulf. Colton left the service in 2020 to pursue a career as an aviation mechanic. He received his airframe and Power Plant certification from the Aviation Institute of Maintenance (AIM) in Virginia, before completing his associate degree with AIM in Atlanta. Colton loves to spend time with his family, including his wife Phoenix, daughter Camilla, and two dogs.

Eric grew up in the Fort Wayne, Indiana area and after his enlistment in the US Army, he focused on aviation as his next passion and turned it into a career path. Specializing in avionics and aircraft electrical systems, Eric earned his A&P through his time on the job and completed the program at Bakers School of Aeronautics.

He and his wife have three children and one of them is a plane lover already. Outside of aviation, Eric enjoys riding his motorcycle and beekeeping.

Cory was born and raised in Fort Wayne Indiana.  As a young kid, he worked with his father pressure washing his commercial accounts. Ever since then, Cory knew he had a passion and attention to detail. He then started detailing vehicles and about two years into that, he became more intrigued by the dynamics of performing paint correction and protection. Along with Cory’s training and courses, he traveled to Atlanta, GA to become a Certified Detailer- Skills Validated, then to Irvine, CA to earn his Detailing Master Technician Training Course Certificate. He is an active member of the International Detailing Association as well.

Tom is originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and received his A&P and FCC licenses from the Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics. He started his aviation career in 1996 with regional carrier Continental Express and then ExpressJet Airlines in Cleveland, Ohio. 25 years later after the pandemic closed the doors, Tom found himself working for GA companies. He received his IA license in August of 2022 from Bakers School of Aeronautics. Tom and his wife Kim have have two sons, two grandkids, and two goldendoodles, Skylar and Reign. They are active with their family, kids sports and church. They love drag racing and traveling.

Brock is from Archbold, Ohio and earned his A&P certificate from Michigan Institute of Aviation and Technology. His passion for aircraft began in his early teens when Brock decided to pursue a career in aviation. He enjoys off-road adventures in his Jeep and spending time with family.

Jeff didn’t know it at the time, but seeing airplanes at an airshow would send him down a career path in the aviation industry. Growing up in the Midwest, Jeff would attend a university where he would receive two Associate of Applied Science degrees as well as a Bachelor of Science business degree. Jeff then joined the Air Force where he would serve six years and be deployed to the Middle East three times. At Sweet Aviation, Jeff handles the administration and logistics for the maintenance shop and plans to earn his pilot license soon.

Andrew was hooked into aviation at an early age when his uncle purchased a flight for him and his brother in a New Standard D-25 at the Air Zoo Aerospace & Science Museum in Kalamazoo, Michigan. With that start, he graduated from Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan, with a Bachelors of Technology in Aviation Flight & Maintenance. While finishing his A&P Andrew worked as a part time flight instructor for the university.

In his free time Andrew enjoys spending time outdoors with his wife, Alicia. The couple is often found camping, hiking, or Kayaking.

Steven Schwanz grew up in Minnesota where he trained at the Minneapolis Technical College Aviation Training Program as an aircraft mechanic and also received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Concordia University. In his free time, Steven enjoys spending time with his wife and five sons.

Taylor was born and raised in Arizona and earned a degree in psychology from Arizona State University followed by a career in education and playing in her local band.

Taylor later fell in love with aviation after a couple of discovery flights including an EC130 in Hawaii. She is excited to work with those who share a passion for aircraft and to expand her knowledge of aviation.

Michael attended Vincennes University in the aviation flight program. There, he received private, commercial, and instrument flight training. He only recently returned to the aviation industry after an exciting 18-year adventure in the live music industry. Now, being a part of Sweet Aviation, he gets to enjoy his passion for both music and flying.

After his first discovery flight with Sweet Aviation, Derek knew he had found his calling and a team he wanted to work with. Previous to Sweet Aviation, Derek spent six years traveling the country climbing as an arborist and also worked at the Nashville International Airport. He is the father of four beautiful children and is also a musician who loves to perform and bring people and communities together.

Alondra fell in love with aviation after her first Young Eagles flight at the age of 12. After that she aspired to get her private pilot license while pursuing her career in veterinary medicine.

Alondra is originally from a small coastal town in California but then moved to Portland, Oregon to continue her education. In 2020 she made the decision to switch career paths and finally get her private pilot license, which, in addition, she also holds instrument and multi-engine commercial licenses now too. Alondra plans on continuing her training at Sweet Aviation and hopes to one day become a Certified Flight Instructor, fly charter, and perhaps become a Designated Pilot Examiner too.

In her free time you can catch Alondra volunteering at the local EAA Chapter 2, cuddling up with her dog Dwight, or reading a good book.