Top 20 Under 40 from WINGS Magazine

9-Jul-2019

In the annual Top 20 Under 40 program, sponsored by the Seneca School of Aviation, WINGS recognizes inspiring young leaders influencing the direction of Canadian aviation and aerospace. These leaders, who are all under the age of 40, were initially put forward through a nomination process lasting over several months. WINGS then determined the 20 honourees based on their demonstration of leadership, innovation, influence, achievement and/or dedication shown to their organization and the Canadian aviation industry.

Ginny Koseruba

Ginny Koseruba, age 38, found her passion for aviation through an uncle who was a career pilot. She has progressed rapidly through various roles at Cascade, where she began as an AME-E apprentice in 2004. Her technical knowledge and organizational skills soon resulted in a promotion into a maintenance planner role.

A graduate of the Lean Sensei Belt program, Koseruba then became a planning supervisor, helping to lead a diverse team focused on maximizing productivity in all of Cascade’s operations. She then received a promotion to her current role as program manager, overseeing all aspects of program delivery for key customers. She manages the third line maintenance in Abbotsford for Lockheed Martin supporting the CC-130J Super Hercules program for Canada. Also for Lockheed, she oversees a Contractor Maintenance Team and group of Field Service Representatives who provide support at CFB Trenton, as well as to deployed troops requiring technical support. Another key current program for Koseruba involves overseeing the Boeing 757 Large Display Screen speed line modification program for a large freight carrier, with 75 aircraft conversions to an upgraded cockpit configuration.

“I’m most grateful for the mentors, both personal and professional, I’ve had the opportunity to work with during my 15 years at Cascade,” says Koseruba, who is also the company’s leader for the Girls Fly Too event that takes place at Abbotsford Airport.

Logan Brown

Logan Brown, age 34, grew up in the world of aviation with a father who recently retired after 30 years as an aircraft mechanic with Air Canada. Brown holds a breadth of aviation knowledge from taking on a range of roles early in his career. This includes being a certified AME and licensed pilot, but extends to his experience in aircraft design. During his time at Diamond Aircraft, Brown worked on helping to design modern avionics for the D-JET, which included handling power distribution and needed regulation requirements.

Brown then joined Air Canada and ultimately took on responsibilities for setting up all of its international stations for the 787 cabin design. “I spent four years in the airline industry and it is a different life style. I wanted to go back to what I love and that’s private aviation or general aviation,” he says. “Innotech- Execaire has such a vast share in the marketplace… I wanted to see what I could do to grow the company.”

Brown, for the first time took on a sales position, which in April 2018 turned into his current business development role. He has helped grow Innotech-Execaire Aviation’s third-party maintenance partnerships within the commercial airline sector, resulting in the hiring of 16 more mechanics across Canada to handle the new business.

Brown’s background in aircraft design has also helped the company in closing transactions around internationally imported aircraft. His extensive knowledge on regulations, requirements and certifications, helps him serve as a consultant for IEAG’s clients, which now includes managing approximately 50 aircraft.

Olena Zagoskina

Olena Zagoskina, age 32, found a passion for aviation at an early age with her father being an aerospace engineer. They both attended the National Aerospace University in Kharkiv, Ukraine. She joined Cascade Aerospace in 2011 and quickly reached her current role by looking after the development and certification of system-related aspects for highly complex modification programs. Working on a variety of projects, she was a leader in the very challenging, five-year conversion of a Bombardier Q400 to multi-mission role. The modification added large auxiliary fuel tanks essentially doubling the aircraft’s mission time.

As a technical lead for fuel tank safety, she was responsible for meeting aviation safety needs in case of a lightning strike, electrostatic discharge, and other ignition sources. This included the responsibility to develop subject matter expertise in the design and certification of fuel systems and leading the highly complex developmental and certification of ground and flight tests.

Zagoskina’s technical skills and ability to interact at a peer level with senior and experienced individuals have led Cascade to have her represent the company on industry and regulatory committees. She was a member on the FAA Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee, developing recommendations for new regulations to enhance aircraft safety in case of emergency landings. She is also a Cascade representative on the Aerospace Industries Association of Canada’s Civil Aviation Committee.

Zagoskina is also currently leading the system safety aspect for a major avionics upgrade on CL 215/415 aircraft used for fighting fires. This is another complex program for Cascade Aerospace beginning from concept development.

In early 2019, Zagoskina was authorized by Transport Canada as one of its youngest ever Delegate Engineers. “When I was granted delegation by Transport Canada it was validation that all of my hard work paid off; and that they believe I am strong enough to actually have the privilege to approve design,” says Zagoskina, who became a Canadian citizen four years ago.