2021 Airport Business Top 40 Under 40: Jamin Heldt, PE
Jamin Heldt likes to tell people he just happened to “land” in aviation during his career.
While studying civil engineering at the University of Evansville, Heldt attended a career fair and spoke with someone about the industry and it piqued his interest.
“I really do enjoy the technical aspect of civil engineering design for airport applications, but I also think I work with some great clients that are genuinely motivated to improve their communities through aviation and their airports,” he said. “I also would have to say that my coworkers that I deal with on weekly basis are all great people to work alongside; I’d say that’s primarily why I’ve been with the same company for almost 12 years.”
Heldt is a project engineer, project manager and section manager for CHA Consulting Inc. (CHA), focusing on airports in the central region. He has worked extensively on the design and construction of aviation, municipal and transportation projects.
Heldt worked on numerous airside, landside and facilities projects at more than a dozen airports. He was involved in the installation of solar covered parking project at the Evansville Regional Airport (EVV) where he served as the project’s design team leader for FAA coordination, electrical engineering and construction phasing.
Heldt continues to serve as project manager at EVV on a broad array of projects including airside aprons, taxiways, runways and drainage improvements to landside terminal and parking improvements.
“Most everyone that I know in my local community has flown out of the Evansville Regional Airport or the other airports I work with in the region. I really take a lot of pride in being able to say that our company helped with that project or we did the design for that project and explain to them how we work with the airport, the FAA and state governments to not only make improvements, but keep things safe.
He’s the project manager for the new terminal site development at Barkley Regional Airport (PAH). This $42 million project includes site/civil design for a new terminal building complex at a greenfield site within the current airport property.
Heldt led the task of reconfiguring the initial landside layouts to allow for additional development opportunities. He was instrumental in assisting the airport to gather both community support and regulatory compliance for the program.
Heldt is the former president and current treasurer of the Indiana Section, Southwest Branch of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). He is also active in numerous aviation-related organizations including the Aviation Association of Indiana (AAI), Kentucky Aviation Association (KAA), Kentuckians for Better Transportation (KBT), and the Great Lakes Chapter of the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE).
