For more than four decades, Ross, Roger, Nancy, and Chuck have helped shape Endeavor through their expertise and dedication. As the employees with the most company seniority in their respective work-groups—Flight Ops, Corporate, Inflight, and Tech Ops—they reflect on their early days, career-defining milestones, and the moments that left a lasting impact.

What do you remember about your first day?

ROSS: I was excited. I got bit by the aviation bug and loved loading airplanes and being at the airport. I just thought that it was neat and fun and there was a good group of people. Plus, I knew that if I did that, then I would have an opportunity to get a job as a pilot at some point.

ROGER: I remember rolling my toolbox into the hangar, and my wife was with me at the time, and we met the Director of Maintenance, Al Mickelson. I was definitely excited, but nervous.

NANCY: My very first flight was to Sioux Falls and back, and we had to do a service on the 35-minute flight. I was very nervous because it was my first flight and I was 20 years old. There were only 17 flight attendants total.

CHUCK: I was very nervous and didn’t know what to expect. The company was young with an average age of 30. We were all in the same boat. It was really kind of like a small family in the shop – with five people plus the director.

What different roles have you had?

ROSS: Ramp agent (while getting pilot ratings); first officer; captain; line check pilot; full-time instructor; proficiency check pilot, APD air crew program designee.

ROGER: Mechanic; maintenance supervisor; MSP base manager, maintenance control manager, fleet management; heavy check quality manager; records manager; reliability senior manager.

NANCY: Flight attendant. I’ve actually been number one on the flight attendant seniority list since 1995.

CHUCK: Avionics technician; inspector; avionics supervisor; maintenance supervisor.

What’s the biggest change in aviation that you’ve witnessed over the years?

ROSS: The airplanes have evolved and pilot hiring drastically increased. It’s neat to see people that are coming from institutions like Purdue and Embry-Riddle, flying a single-engine airplane to transition to this environment. I couldn’t have done it. It’s a pretty big step to do that.

ROGER: Having the technology to pull data off the airplane and try to predict problems before they exist.

NANCY: When I started, we only flew on turboprop aircraft. We didn’t get our first jet until the late 90s. They were sweet little beginnings, and I look back at it with fondness.

CHUCK: The technology. For example, we now use iPads instead of paper manuals.

How has Endeavor’s culture shifted over the years?

ROSS: Endeavor has been able to successfully adapt to the level of experience coming in the door and adjust the overall training footprint, compared to 20 or 30 years ago.

ROGER: I believe it’s always been a good people culture. Endeavor is the best of both worlds that focuses on data-driven results accompanied by good people.

NANCY: We’ve become very diverse as a company. People at Endeavor used to only come from the Twin Cities, but now they’re from across the country and the world, which I think is amazing.

CHUCK: We’ve had good leaders that have carried us through the good and challenging times.

What has kept you at Endeavor all these years?

ROSS: Endeavor is family and it’s home. I never had any desire to fly a big airplane across the pond. My goal was to have good quality of life, raise my family, and do what I like to do. It’s nice to be a part of something where I think I can make a difference. When people come in for a sim event, the last thing I want them to be is nervous. I try and just put them at ease, and I believe that helps.

ROGER: Enjoyment of the job and the people. If I didn’t have good people to work with, I probably would have retired by now. I’m here because I can still make a difference and help make us safer and more reliable.

NANCY: I was able to be #1 in seniority 9 years in. Being able to have a flexible schedule meant a lot to me, especially while raising a family. The years go by and everything just keeps getting better. Being a part of a great company that’s with great people has kept me here.

CHUCK: Every time I would get close to making a career change, I realized I liked what I did and liked who I worked with. The work can be found anywhere, but Endeavor’s culture and people can only be found here.

What is one milestone that you’re proud of?

ROSS: Being awarded as an Endeavor’s Elite honoree was special. It felt good to be appreciated and recognized and it was a phenomenal event.

ROGER: Making a difference for Endeavor over the past 40 years, whether that’s making changes on our aircraft or seeing a difference throughout the industry.

NANCY: Receiving the Endeavor’s Elite award was really special to me. The airline knows how to reward us and it shows that what we do on the line does not go unnoticed.

CHUCK: Being part of the crew that started up the Detroit maintenance base, which was a big step for Mesaba. We’d all take turns flying out there to work.

What piece of advice would you give to new employees?

ROSS: Be patient. Working at Endeavor is a gift. Be appreciative of it. Things can change, so make sure
to roll with the flow. It can be overwhelming from the interview to ground school to the simulator – just take one bite of the elephant at a time.

ROGER: Be open to new things and opportunities will come.

NANCY: Follow your heart. Small airlines work for some people, and it worked for me because I was younger and starting a family. You’re going to love it here!

CHUCK: Try and learn as much as you can. Listen to the people that are assisting you. They’ve learned some hard lessons that they can help you with.

What’s the most meaningful teamwork moment that you experienced?

ROSS: The pilot extended envelope training program took several years and a lot of effort from the people in the training department to put that together and get approval by the FAA, and now it’s in every continuing qual event.

ROGER: We have ad-hoc meetings for fleet related safety and/or reliability drivers where our technical experts meet with MHI FSR to discuss the issues using data to better understand and develop actions to mitigate/prevent them in the future. It’s a great way to work together.

NANCY: There’s been plenty of times when customers don’t know where their gate is, so I walk them over to the gate and they usually only have 10 minutes until it departs. Events like these are collaborative – the pilots and flight attendants are informed, and the gate agent knows of the connecting flights. It feels good to make a difference!

CHUCK: When we had Avro aircraft, we were installing a system that was required by the FAA. It required important coordination between avionics, outside contractors, sheet metal mechanics, and engineering. We did 36 of them.

Tell us about an unexpected moment you’ve experienced on the job.

ROGER: When we were in the old hangar, a huge sewer rat came in the door and sprinted underneath the airplane. We had four or five guys split up on either side of the airplane and chase the rat on the hangar floor. The rat’s fate was determined by a broom. It was a huge!

NANCY: When I was brand new, there was a slide track door on the plane. There was some grease that would be on that door to make it slide, so I touched that and had some on my index finger. I itched my nose and
had this perfect little Charlie Chaplin mustache. The flight attendant that was training me noticed and said, “You can’t go out there. You have black grease under your nose.” We took a wipe with something on it, and that made it all red. I was very new so it was funny but embarrassing. I learned to never touch that thing again!

CHUCK: Unexpected things happen all the time. I live 190 miles north of MSP and was driving home, and
a hailstorm had come across the airport and beat up a bunch of our Dash 8 aircraft. A lot of people came together as a team to get us through a crisis, as many airplanes were grounded with the sheet metal dented.

What would you say to your 20-year old self?

ROSS: Be grateful. Time flies, so appreciate every moment. I still remember flying the Beechcraft like it was yesterday. If I look back, I should have been more appreciative. There have been so many life experiences that this company has provided.

ROGER: Keep an open mind. Accept change.

NANCY: You’re going to go through peaks and valleys in your life and your career, but it’s okay – just go along for the ride and stick it out.

CHUCK: Listen to the people who are trying to help you. Be humble and admit to your mistakes. Everybody makes them.

If you could fly anywhere right now, where would you go and why?

ROSS: I would go back to New Zealand. It was beautiful and clean, and I watched The Hobbit movie on the way over.

ROGER: I’ve always wanted to go to New Zealand or Australia.

NANCY: Hawaii has always been my favorite. It was one of our best vacations as a family and I make sure to go back about every other year.

CHUCK: I would go to England or France to follow the path of Easy Company from the TV series, Band of Brothers.

For early morning shifts, coffee or tea?

ROSS: I quit drinking Monsters, so I now drink tea – a good English breakfast tea.

ROGER: Coffee.

NANCY: Coffee. I have it set up the night before and ready to brew. It’s a very peaceful time when I drive into work with my Tumblr.

CHUCK: A Monster Energy Drink.