Assistant Airframe Manager Stephanie Alexander joined Duncan Aviation at its Battle Creek, Michigan, facility in 2016 after earning her degree in Aviation Administration in the Aviation Business Operations program at Western Michigan University.
She had been going to school to become a teacher, but after paging through the catalog to see what other degrees were offered, she was thrilled to see college programs devoted to aviation. She’d been drawn to aviation because she wanted to be a pilot.
“I had heard a lot about Duncan Aviation at Western,” says Stephanie. “If you wanted extra credit in certain classes, you could sign up for a tour. I also knew Trent Zwiers (Project Manager, Provo, Utah) who was in FBO in Battle Creek at the time.”
In July 2016, after graduating, she was hired as a Customer Service Rep at the FBO. Stephanie was surprised how genuinely friendly everyone was.
“Tom Burt (then CEO) and Andy Richards (Executive VP/COO) would greet me by name as they walked by,” says Stephanie. “It was so cool, but it was also surprising and unexpected. Duncan Aviation felt like a good fit right off the bat; it was warm and welcoming, for sure.”
In February 2017, Stephanie moved to a Customer Care Rep, and she worked with customers, internal and external, building and strengthening relationships for the next 4 years.
One of the things that came easily for Stephanie, but she can appreciate may be intimidating for some team members, was to connect with people at work.
“I always encourage new team members to get involved. If it seems like too much to serve on a committee, volunteer at an event. You don’t have to be the leader, but get out there and make yourself available. Meet new people, have conversations, connect with people who have similar interests,” says Stephanie. “I feel like once you make those connections over whatever it is, work, hobbies, common interests, you’ll not just feel better about coming to work every day, but you’ll be more well-known and even have more career opportunities. The more you join in, the more visible you are at work, the more marketable you become.”
In July 2021, Stephanie took on the role of Airframe Scheduler. This role required her to work primarily with internal customers, juggling the needs of the Sales and the Airframe teams.
In November 2024, Stephanie was promoted to Assistant Manager of Airframe, becoming the first woman in the company’s nearly 70-year history to hold this leadership role.
“Shawn (Andrews, Manager of Airframe) and I are responsible for 218 team members, and as I’m fairly new to this role, I need to get my feet under me before I take on much more,” says Stephanie. “However, I will continue promoting women, bringing quality women and men on board, and offering guidance and help so everyone can also be happy and successful in their careers and add value to the Duncan Aviation teams and the industry as a whole.”
Stephanie realized there were issues unique to women at Duncan Aviation and in the industry that were not being addressed.
With an eye toward recruitment and retention, Stephanie worked with the Manager of Human Resources and the Vice President of Aircraft Services to form a women’s group that would hold productive conversations about these issues. The group is designed to connect women from various shops and departments throughout the company with one another and engage in social and volunteer activities at the company and throughout the community.
“In the last year, we also helped support a drive to collect prom dresses for underprivileged high-school girls, and we spent a day cleaning at Safe Place, a domestic violence shelter,” says Stephanie.
It was a safe place for women to talk about problems they faced in their careers, such as making sure there were feminine hygiene products available, designating a quiet, comfortable room with a locking door for nursing mothers, addressing the fact that work uniforms designed for men didn’t fit women very well, among many other issues.
Her efforts helped make Duncan Aviation, a leader in the business aviation industry, a more welcoming and safe space for women.
Stephanie has also frequently joined other women from Duncan Aviation at industry and educational events and forums to help let women know generally about careers and opportunities in aviation and specifically about careers for women at Duncan Aviation.
She has also organized groups from the company who have volunteered at a soup kitchen in Battle Creek, and they adopted a nearby highway and participate in clean ups for Earth Day as well as other clean ups throughout the year.
She has served on work-related committees to plan fundraising events for the United Way, she’s active in volunteer groups in her church, St. Margaret’s Catholic Church, and she and her husband Christian are involved in fundraisers and school activities for their 3 children.
Stephanie and Christian, have three children and one on the way. They have 2 sons, Kai (6) and Theo (4), a daughter Charlotte (2), and the new baby is due in October.
Throughout the last school year, the Alexanders also hosted a foreign exchange student, 17-year-old Merlin from Paris, France. Merlin was a senior at Plainwell High School, and he’s interested in pursuing a career in aviation.
As an example of her intrepid nature, curiosity about the world, and willingness to step outside her comfort zone, a few months before earning her Bachelor’s Degree in Aviation Administration from Western Michigan University, Stephanie volunteered on a marine conservation project in Madagascar. She spent 10 weeks scuba diving, conducting turtle surveys, assessing coral reefs, teaching English, and participating in other volunteer opportunities.
She brings this same energy, enthusiasm, and determination to make a difference to every endeavor she undertakes. And she’s not even close to feeling like she’s accomplished enough or helped enough people find their own career paths and achieve their goals.
Duncan Aviation’s Vice President of Aircraft Services Travis Grimsley said, “Stephanie has infectious positivity, high energy, and a relentless drive to learn and execute. She inspires those around her to push boundaries and achieve more. She has continued stepping out of her comfort zone to take on new positions, and she continues to succeed. It does not take her long to build positive, long-lasting relationships with those around her.”
In Fall 2025, Stephanie earned national recognition when she was named a Business Aviation Top 40 Under 40 Award Recipient by the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA). This honor celebrates her leadership, dedication, and passion for the industry.
“What excites me most about business aviation is the fast-paced, ever-changing environment and the opportunity to work alongside skilled teams to deliver high-quality service,” says Stephanie. “I’m passionate about promoting women in aviation and take pride in being part of a company that values family, growth and innovation. Each day brings new challenges and opportunities to learn, which makes my career both rewarding and fulfilling.”