Estefania Collazos discovered aviation during middle school when she walked by Aviation High School on the way to school. During an open house she was able to go into all the shop classes and have a try at riveting, soldering wires, and even play with some of the mockups.
During her time in Aviation High School she was part of the Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corp (AFJROTC) program and Sgt. Williams was the instructor and he served as a mentor. "As the years went on we grew to have a relationship where I would go to him on advice about school, goals, and career options. His advice and guidance helped build a strong foundation of core values, integrity, and leadership. She attended Aviation High School and part of the fifth year honors program which allowed students to stay and finish obtaining the necessary FAA hours to complete the A&P program.
Collazos' first aviation related job was being a tutor for A&P students at Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology. She helped students to understand basic systems like hydraulics, electrical and sheet metal. She got her bachelor's in electrical engineering with a focus on avionics. Later she found out Endeavor would be opening up a base at LGA so she decided to apply. Next was the role of a lead technician. Her current job is a maintenance operations technical representative (MOTR) where she focuses on repeat discrepancy and aircraft that come out of service and require assistance.
Nominated by John Huntoon, director of maintenance, Endeavor Air: "Born in 1992, this 25-year-old professional has already risen up the maintenance ranks at Endeavor Air and has impressed anyone she has had contact with. Arriving in the US in 1999 from her native Columbia as a young girl, Stef was always inquisitive about how things worked and showed particular interest in aircraft. Stef immediately was recognized for her strong sense of safety and compliance and her desire to continuously learn and help others be successful. Her commitment to her job, her company, and her industry is incredible for such as young professional. Stef demonstrates each day her commitment to her chosen industry, her endless energy and desire to continuously learn and improve her value, and her genuine love for the aviation industry. It should also be noted that while compiling this impressive list of achievements, Stef also received her U.S. citizenship in 2015. This is one director of maintenance who feels extremely fortunate to have Stef as part of the team and as a fellow citizen of this great country."
To give back to the industry she has attended career fairs and recruiting events to talk about her role at Endeavor. Collazos has also held a seminar at Aviation High School to teach students how to dress, talk, and act during an interview. As a former member of the Civil Air Patrol, she also shares her experience in the aviation industry and answers questions about career choices and training.
For the future, Collazos sees herself in a management position, where she can be part of the discussions and decisions that make a difference at Endeavor.
